Notes from the National College

National Multidisciplinary Conference on Domestic Violence

By Candace M. Mosley, Director of Programs

Watching the headlines in the print media as well as daily newscasts we see that not only is domestic violence still alive and well, but also the horrible pervasive effect it has on every aspect of our communities’ health, well being and safety. The National College of District Attorneys has been on the forefront of the battle against these attacks on our families for over 16 years. The college will present its Seventeenth Annual National Multidisciplinary Conference on Domestic Violence in Orlando, Florida, Saturday, October 27 through Wednesday, October 31. This year’s theme, Reclaiming Our Lives … Revealing Our Secrets, honors the incredible strength and tenacity required for survivors to reach out and overcome the greatest of adversities; to reclaim their lives, without losing sight of the fact that, in order to succeed, they must endure an incredible invasion of their privacy—revealing their secrets.

Lectures, demonstrations and informal break-out sessions will focus on a variety of issues impacting the coordinated efforts of prosecutors’ offices across the country with others within the criminal justice system as well as the community. Motivational panel discussions with survivors and families of domestic violence victims offer an excellent opportunity to look constructively and critically at our progress in the area of DV prosecution as well as areas in need of improvement.

While this is a multidisciplinary conference there are several key sessions designed specifically with the challenges for today’s front line prosecutors in mind: cutting edge trial strategies; evidentiary matters; evidence based prosecution after Crawford; developing dedicated domestic violence courts as well as dedicated centers providing inclusive services for domestic violence victims; prosecution of rape by intimate partners; elder abuse; and working with experts just to name a few. Come join your colleagues from across the country in Orlando at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort, October 27-31.